Two consortia qualified to bid following a thorough request for qualifications process, Crosslinx Transit Solutions and Crosstown Transit Partners. They have been invited to submit formal proposals for the Crosstown's integrated system project. Consisting of more than 30 companies, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario says the consortia have extensive experience and expertise building large transit projects globally and in Canada, including the Confederation Light-Rail Line in Ottawa, the spur line for the Union Pearson Express in Toronto and the Evergreen Line in Vancouver.

The Crosstown will run across Eglinton Avenue between Mount Dennis (Weston Road) and Kennedy Station. The 19-kilometre corridor will include a more than 10-kilometre underground portion between Keele Street and Laird Drive. It will have 25 stations and stops, linking to bus routes, three subway stations and various GO Transit lines.

The Crosstown represents a CA$5.3 billion (US$4.98 billion) transit improvement investment - the largest in the history of the region. Construction on the Crosstown began in 2011 with the west launch area at Black Creek Drive and Eglinton Avenue. Tunneling from the west began in June 2013 and two tunnel boring machines are in operation. In November 2013, the east tunnels contract was awarded and construction on the east launch area east of Brentcliffe Road will begin in early 2014.

Qualified consortia will spend most of 2014 planning and preparing their teams and proposals to design, construct and finance the project's construction, as well to maintain the stations and trackwork over a 30-year period.

Infrastructure Ontario is managing the procurement of the Crosstown's integrated system and Metrolinx will oversee detailed design and construction to ensure that the winning team fulfills all of its obligations under the project agreement. The TTC will operate the LRT lines under an operating agreement with Metrolinx.